US declines to participate in UN periodic review on its human rights issues

A UN official confirmed Thursday that the United States has informed the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that it would not participate in the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the country, scheduled to take place on Nov. 6 in Geneva.

OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told Xinhua that the Office is aware of and regrets the U.S. decision to withdraw from an important peer review process of the intergovernmental UN Human Rights Council, in which all UN member states regularly participate.

She noted that the Office will continue to engage with the U.S. government, as well as with civil society, academia, businesses, and other stakeholders, on human rights issues.

The UPR is regarded as a key platform within the UN framework for countries to exchange views on human rights issues.

Since the first cycle of the UPR began in 2008, all 193 UN member states have undergone three reviews. The fourth cycle, which commenced in 2022, is currently underway. The United States previously underwent reviews in 2010, 2015, and 2020.